Tourism in Montenegro


Montenegro is one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations. In 2007, over a million tourists visited Montenegro, making some 7.3 million overnight stays. This accounted for some 480 million euros in tourism revenue in 2007. In 2015, tourism realised over 1.7 million arrivals, with a further increase in 2016. In the same year, the coastal town of Kotor was named the best city to visit by Lonely Planet, whereas the country itself is continuously included in touristic top lists. With a total of 1.8 million visitors in 2016, the nation became the 36th most popular country to travel to in Europe. Montenegro was further visited by over 2 million tourists in 2017. The Government aims to attract greenfield investments, which should make best use of undeveloped parts of the coast, such as Jaz Beach, Velika Plaža, Ada Bojana and Buljarica.
Montenegro can be presented as a destination offering a variety of attractions and all-year tourism is possible by publicizing its varied features. Therefore, the Tourism Masterplan of Montenegro is also paving the way for a national development program for nature based tourism, especially hiking and biking, with new infrastructure and services. The realisation of a 3-year-program was started in 2007.

Main points of interest

Coastal region

North Coast region
This notable coastal region is of primary interest to tourists in Montenegro. The Montenegrin Adriatic coast is 295 km long, with 72 km of beaches, and with many well-preserved ancient old towns. The main attractions along the north coast are:
South Coast region
The South Coast region of Montenegro is considered one of the great new "discoveries" among world tourists. In January 2010, The New York Times ranked the Ulcinj South Coast region of Montenegro, including Velika Plaza, Ada Bojana, and the Hotel Mediteran of Ulcinj, as among the "Top 31 Places to Go in 2010" as part of a worldwide ranking of tourism destinations
The South Coast region, centered in Ulcinj, is popular in part due to the "Blue Flag beach" sandy beaches, eco-adventure activities, ancient fortress-cities, and vibrant nightlife. These destinations include:
The northern region is the centre of Montenegrin mountain tourism. It has ski resorts, and is popular for its untouched nature. The entire area of Durmitor mountain and the Tara river canyon is protected as a national park, and listed with UNESCO world heritage sites.
Destinations in the north are:
Although it is the most densely populated area of Montenegro, the central region has fewer tourist attractions. Notable are:
The length of coastline of Montenegro is 293 km. It has 73 km of beaches, there are over 120 such beaches. There are varying beach styles from sand to pebbles of differing lengths.
Ulcinj
The coast line of Ulcinj is 32 km long. It has more than 10 beaches. Ada Bojana is a river island. It is a triangle shape with sea from one side. The beach is sandy and long. Velika Plaza is the longest beach in Montenegro, one of the warmest and most beautiful beaches on the Adriatic Sea. It is 12 km long and it is covered with sand. It is very shallow. Small city beach is as same as Velika Plaza but it is not so long. Valdanos is little cove with pebbly beach and beautiful flora around it.
Bar
Bar Riviera is 44 km long and has got 9 km of beaches. There are more than 20 beaches but Bar has got 2 beaches on the lakeside. The main beach in Bar is Sutomore beach. It's 1 km long and is covered with sand. Canj beach is 1 km long and is a tourist location. The beach is covered with fine sand but the sea bottom is covered with round rocky pebbles. Queen's beach is very near Canj but it can be only approached from sea. Red beach is specific because it is covered with red round pebbles and the view from it is outstanding. Zukotrlica beach is over 1 km long and it is near the city. It is covered with white pebbles and in the background is little beautiful pine forest. Beach Utjeha is also called "Olive Bay" because there are hundreds of olives in the background. It is covered with pebbles and is very clear. On the lake there are two beaches: Pjesacac and Murici. They are covered with pebbles. The view from there on the Skadar Lake is amazing.
Budva
Budva Riviera has over 25 beaches and they are favourite destination for tourists in Montenegro. The longest beach is Jaz. It's 2.5 km long and is sandy. Mogren beach has specific small pebbles. It consist two little beaches and they are connected with a tunnel. Slovenska beach is 1.5 km long and is covered with sand. There are lot of hotels, restaurants and parks in the background. The Becici beach is long and one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean, it is sandy. Milocer beach, Queen's beach and Sveti Stefan beach are the most exclusive beaches in Montenegro because of fantastic sand, flora and amazing view on isle-hotel Sveti Stefan. Pterovac beach is quiet long and is covered with little red pebbles. Special attraction there are two little isles and little fortress near beach. Buljarica beach is covered with sand and is 2 km long.
Tivat
There are over 15 small beaches in Tivat. Opatovo is a 200 m long pebble beach. Little lighthouse divides beach in two parts. Beach Plavi Horizonti is perhaps the most famous and beautiful in Tivat. It is 300 m long and covered with small white pebbles. There are two islands near Tivat: The Island of St. Marko and Island of Flowers. They have very nice and attractive beaches.
Kotor
This is the deepest part of Boka Kotorska so there are fewer beaches. There are about 10 small beaches. Morinj beach is very nice pebbly beach with beautiful background and view on bay. Risan beach is a quiet, long and rocky beach. Orahovac is the favourite beach in Kotor. It is pebbly with old stone houses in the background. Trsteno is one of the most beautiful pebbly beach in Montenegro. It is 200 m long with clear water and natural background.
Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi Riviera is 25 km long and it has over 20 beaches. Igalo beach is 1.5 km long and sandy. Rose beach is rocky with very nice forest background. Zanjic beach is one of the most beautiful in Herceg Novi. It is 300 m long and it is covered with white pebbles.

Statistics by year

YearTotal tourist arrivalsDomesticForeign
2006953,961156,857797,071
20071,133,432149,294984,138
20081,188,116156,9041,031,212
20091,207,694163,6801,044,014
20101,262,985175,1911,087,794
20111,373,454172,3551,201,099
20121,439,500175,3371,264,163
20131,492,006167,6031,324,403
20141,517,376167,0791,350,297
20151,713,109153,1851,559,924
20161,813,817151,6961,662,121
20172,000,009122,7971,877,212
20182,204,856128,0532,076,803
20192,645,217135,5922,509,625

Tourist arrivals and overnights by nationality

Most visitors arriving to Montenegro in who stayed in registered accommodation came from the following countries:
RankCountry2019Country2018Country2017
1Serbia402,866Serbia409,385Serbia405,426
2Russia384,689Russia338,463Russia350,468
3Bosnia and Herzegovina203,766Bosnia and Herzegovina193,587Bosnia and Herzegovina183,690
4Kosovo169,601Germany89,741France60,865
5Germany163,877France77,096Germany57,813
6France90,083Poland69,091Ukraine57,795
7United Kingdom80,876Albania65,419Albania56,206
8Albania79,001United Kingdom62,460Poland56,061
9Poland76,620Ukraine61,473Kosovo46,948
10China74,833Kosovo55,531Turkey45,947
11Ukraine57,188Turkey43,755United Kingdom42,360
12Sweden43,486China42,715Italy35,525
13Israel40,764Italy37,602Belarus31,211
14Turkey39,984Israel34,904Israel30,506
15Italy39,692Hungary34,032Croatia28,597
Total foreign2,509,625Total foreign2,076,803Total foreign1,877,212-

National parks

The country has two distinct World heritage sites and additional two shared with other countries.